China’s Premier Li Qiang is the key figure at the upcoming meeting in Pakistan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security group co-founded by Russia and China to counter Western alliances. Despite a recent spike in militant violence in Pakistan, Li is attending the two-day gathering to discuss enhancing security and economic cooperation among member states. This marks the first visit by a Chinese premier to Pakistan in over a decade, following a recent attack in Balochistan that claimed the lives of two Chinese workers. Separatists in the region have been targeting Chinese nationals working on projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, accusing them of exploiting resources.
The meeting comes on the heels of other violent incidents in Pakistan, including the killing of 21 coal miners and an attack on a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that left one officer and three gunmen dead. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, suspicions point to the Pakistani Taliban. Li’s visit will also include meetings with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and other high-ranking officials.
Representatives from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will also be in attendance at the SCO meeting, along with Iran’s vice president and India’s foreign minister. Pakistan has bolstered security measures in the capital for the event, deploying troops and prohibiting rallies. The meeting aims to strengthen ties among member states and address the growing security challenges facing the region.
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